Today in tech history....

It’s a no-brainer that we would not be as advanced as we are today if it was not for J Presper Eckert and John Mauchly—what? Oh you know who they are. With so much data in our minds circling it is sometimes hard to remember all of those pertinent names who play a part in our technology historical growth.

J Presper Eckert and John Mauchly created one of the first computer companies, The Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation (EMCC) in 1947. Ok, so not the actual brains behind the invention itself, but definitely the motivation to build a company around it and see it expanded to the world. However, that dream had it’s hiccups due to a lack of funds. They were not able to make enough to properly complete and exploit their designs and therefore had to sell the business to Sperry Rand. Eckert was hired on and remained with the company for the majority of his life, while Mauchly only lasted a few years before branching off to become a private consultant.

However, before funds became the crushing boulder of their dreams of having a successful company of their own, the two men designed “Project PX” (ENIAC - Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). It was the first electronic general-purpose computer. They grew as a company and went on to design the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC), which was the world’s first commercial digital computer as well as their company’s first product.

It is sad to think of all the designs that sit dormant, unfinished, by inspired designers that simply did not have the funds to see it through or brought to life. It makes you wonder and question that credibility of inventions that are exposed successfully—did they take that idea from a poor kid working out of his garage? Did they overhear the thought in a coffee shop from an enthralled college student running the design over to hear his friend’s thoughts?

- Shaunna Kaufmann#OnThisDayInHistoryDecember 8thOne of the first computer companies launched by J Presper Eckert and John Mauchly.